Chaka Khan to Receive Classic Soul Honor at 2026 Soul Train Awards

Chaka Khan will receive the Classic Soul Honor at the 2026 Soul Train Awards, airing Nov. 27 on BET and CBS. The award recognizes a career of more than five decades in which Khan shaped the sound of soul, funk and R&B with hits including "Tell Me Something Good," "Sweet Thing," "Ain't Nobody," "I'm Every Woman" and "I Feel for You."

Her credentials are on the record: 11 Grammys, including the Recording Academy's Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 with the Musical Excellence Award.

"Chaka Khan is the embodiment of soul music," said Louis Carr, president of BET. "From her groundbreaking work with Rufus to a solo career that has produced some of the most iconic records in music history, she has continually expanded the possibilities of R&B and soul while inspiring generations of artists to find and own their voices. Honoring Chaka is a celebration of the music and cultural legacy that Soul Train has always embodied."

Jesse Collins executive produces the telecast, with Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers under the Jesse Collins Entertainment banner. Connie Orlando is the executive producer for BET.

What else is coming to screens in November?

National Geographic has revealed the trailer for "Expedition: Saving Our Seas," premiering Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. EST and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Narrated by Auli'i Cravalho ("Moana"), the one-hour special follows National Geographic explorers across all five ocean basins. Among its findings: the first-known live sighting of a giant Antarctic gonate squid in the Southern Ocean, and a study of an Arctic Ocean warming at four times the rate of the rest of the planet. Katharine Arthy directs; the film is produced by Offspring Films in partnership with Rolex.

Five bonus episodes of "Lot Patrol," from Manny Halley Productions, debut on BET on Nov. 3, rounding out the comedy's first season at 10 full episodes. The series, set among security guards patrolling a major studio backlot, stars DeRay Davis, Carl Anthony Payne II and Tamera Kissen, alongside comedians including TK Kirkland, Alex Thomas and Iyana Halley.

"'Lot Patrol' is a fresh, culturally rooted take on the industry," creator Manny Halley said. "It's OK to laugh at how things in this town operate — particularly through an urban lens, which is a fresh angle."

"The Biggest Little Farm Series," a 12-part docuseries sequel to the 2018 documentary, premieres Nov. 8 on YouTube. Directed by John Chester, it revisits the farm he built with Molly Chester eight years on, asking, in the production's own words: "Can a farm become too feral for its own good?"

Hearst Media Production Group has renewed "Home for Good" for a second season, returning to ABC stations nationwide on Saturday, Jan. 9 within the "Weekend Adventure" educational block. Hosted by Art Edmonds, the renovation series will expand beyond first responders to feature educators, mentors and volunteers.

"The series shows what giving back looks like through the people who serve their communities, while giving viewers practical fire and CO safety information they can use at home," said Bryan Curb, president of HMPG.

What does the Disney–F1 deal signal?

"The Pursuit: F1 Academy," a documentary special on the all-female racing series, premieres Nov. 19 on Disney+, ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov. 19–21. Filmed across global locations during the 2025 season, it follows drivers Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, Chloe Chambers and Alisha Palmowski, with access to managing director Susie Wolff. The special extends the "Fuel the Magic" partnership between Disney, Formula 1 and F1 Academy, first launched at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 and later expanded in Canada with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck branding. It will also stream on the ESPN app later this year.

For Khan, the Nov. 27 ceremony adds a broadcast television platform to an honorific season that already includes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — and gives BET a marquee name to anchor its fall slate.